Paper-feeding machine.



PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

T. G. DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1901.

6 SHEETSSHBBT 1.

N0 MODEL.

. 7/ den Zen No. 754,203. PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

T. G. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 31, 1901.

N0 MODEL. e SHEETSSHEET 2.

I]!!! jijiiiiiii lllllll lAlAA z'zineww. w

No. 754,203. PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904. T. G. DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED JULY 31, 1901. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

T!!! iiiii iii'.

@Zzewes, [ax/c1460)? PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

v T. 0. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1901. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

%&Z6JJCW. 1206/2302? W4 W No. 754,203. 'PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

T. 0. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1901.

N0 MODEL. v 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Fizz- 425 46 IIIIHHIIIHII N0 MODEL.

T. O. DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1901.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

ZhvemZ-mr vmuzfm PATENTED MAR. s, 1904.

- necessary :to take the job off of the feeding- UNiTE'D- STATES- Patented March 6,1904.

PATENT OFFI E. I

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFiCAJTIQltI' forming part of Letters Patent 110,754,203, dated March 8, 19 04 I Application filed Jul; 31, 1901, Serial No. 70,329. (No model.)

T alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT (IDEXTER, a

tion.

' My present invention relates to improvements in the styleof paper-feeding machines chines, ofwhich the following is a specificacovered by Patent No. 659,510, granted to me October. 9, 1900.,'

In this patent I have disclosed a sheet buckling'separating, mechanism. for paperfeeding machines comprising a pair of suctional buckling devices arranged to operate over one edge of a pile of sheets and adapted to buckle a sheet at its corners, raise them one edge, the buckled edge raised from the buckled edge'of the sheet from the pile, shift the sheet bodily upon the pile, hold the raised edge-in elevated position while air is blown under the partially separated sheet, and finally release the buckled raised edgeof the sheet in elevated position immediately after portions, rendering it very diflicult to feed.

the sheets because itis very diflicult to properly separate and free, them from the pile. This is true particularly of large printed sheets having heavy patches-of ink upon their surfaces-fisuch, for instance, as 'is found in lithographic work. When such jobsareencountered, the usual method of attempting toover- .come the difiiculty is by blowing a greater quantity and stronger blasts of air under the sheets and specially directing the air-blasts toward the points in the sheets which cause the trouble. The difiiculty isonlypartially overcome .in this way, andmanytimes itis machine and feedthe sheets .by hand. When strongblasts of air are used for separating the sheets, it is alsonecessary to apply pressure thepile. This is also objectionable. v

To overcome the objections to paper-feed-- ing machines now commonly used and to further perfect the'sheet moving and separat- No. 659,510, I have devised the improvements which I desire to cover. by my" present appli cation, a

To this end my invention consists mainly of, a sheet moving or separating instrument having means for taking a positivehold upon of the pile and raising and lowering 'the,instrument, and means for moving the instrument longitudinally'of the pile or laterally with relation to its direction of reciprocation, whereby a sheet maybe buckled at or near pile, and the entire sheet shifted bodily upon the pile to insure absolutely against thead point throughout its surface. 'l l 1 i s shifting bodily of the sheet upon the pile may be in any direction, but in my present embodiment The separating instruments of my present application differ from" those of my abovenamed patent in that; the instrumentsin'th present case; are'moved' laterally th s sheet bodily upon the pile, whe r'easmthesaid patent the-vertical movements of ments are reliedjon to effect the shiftinof 'the sheet 'upon the'pilaQ V Another feature of my present invention is the provision of means'for stretching the bucwhile it is elevated from the pile, so 'astofurther'insure the shifting and separation of the sheet and a better distribution of the airunder the sheet when the air-blasts areused and prevent the improper shifting of the sheet out of register with the pile. f s I My improved sheet-separating mechanism maybe used with. or without the air-blast'devices. If the .airdilastdevices are used for directing currents of air beneath the separated sheet, my improved mechanism will cause the air-currents .to be properly distributed, orif" the air-blastdevicts are not used the, movewind blowing the sheet out of alinement with ing mechanism of my above-named patena a sheet, means for reciprocating transversely here'nce of the top sheet with the pile'jat any" of the invention I shift the sheet 'rearwardly.

kled partially-separated edge. of the 'shee't inent of the separated sheet, acted upon by my improved mechanism,- will cause air to be drawn in under the sheet to a sufficient extent to properly separate it from the pile.

My invention consists of certain other features of novelty, and in order that my invention may be fully understood I will first de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings and afterward point out the novelty with more particularity in' the annexed claims.

In said draWinga'Figure l is a partial rear elevation of a paper-feeding machine, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2isasimilar view of one of the sheetbuckling mechanisms, showing the parts in the position assumed at the beginning of the separating operation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts of the mechanism in an intermediate po-' sition of their operation. Fig. t is an edge elevation of the same, parts being in section and parts removed. Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views representing the relative arrangement of the cams upon theoperatingshaft for actuating the several parts of my improved separating mechanism. Figs. 7 and 8 are vertical and transverse sectional views of the valvecontrolling the suctional 'buckler. Fig. 9 is a sectional plan View of the sheetbuckling finger. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating a connection between two of the operating parts of the buckling-finger. Fig. 11 is a detail face view of one of the adjustable cam-s which operate the valves controlling the suction of' the buckling-fingers. Fig. 12 is a detail plan view illustrating the safety relief-valve for regulating the vacuum in the suction-cups of the buckling-fingers.

The pile of paper P to be fed to the folder, printing-press, or other machine is mounted upon an automatically-adjustable platform or table 1, which may be mounted and operated in the usual manner. The side frames of the feeding-machine to which my improvements are applied are not illustrated in the drawings. Suitablysupported from the' ordinary side frames above the pile-supporting table 1 is a suitable frame upon which the sheet-buckling separating mechanisms are supported. I have shown only the rear transverse bar 2 of this supporting-frame. This bar 2 is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the feeding-machine, so as to support the sheet-separating.

mechanisms and the air-blastdevices (when used) in proper position above the rear edge of a pile of sheets which is tobe fed from the table or platform. The two sets of sheet-separating mechanism are adjustably mounted upon this rear supporting-bar 2, so as to be capable of adjustment transversely of the pile.

5 5 5 represent the ordinary air-blast tubes adjustably mounted upon the supporting-bar 2 and'having air-pipe connections 6 with any suitable blower. (Not shown.) There may be any desired number of these air-blast pipes 5,

the number and disposition of them depend ing upon the size of the sheets to be operated upon and the nature of the paper and of the printing upon the paper if the sheets have been previously printed. 1 showin Fig. 1 of the drawings a desirable arrangement of three of the blastpipes.

I will now describe my improved sheet-buc kling separating mechanism,-of which there are two sets'arra'nged at opposite sides above the .rear edge of the pile. Both sheet-buckling mechanisms are of the same construction and a description of one will be sufficient for both. 10 is a suitable bracket adjustably mounted upon the supporting-bar 2 and secured in the desired adjusted position by a set-screw 11.

12 is a vertically-extending guide-bracket formed with a horizontal ear 13, through which secured to the vertically-sliding buckler-frame 16. This adjusting-screw 17 has a crank-handle 20 for operatingit. By operating the screw 1'1 the buckler mechanism can be adjusted vertically with relation to the pile of sheets.

is the buckler-operating shaft, which is journaled in suitable bearings 26, formed upon the lower bracket portion of buckler-support-- ing frame 16. This short shaft 25 has universal-joint connection 27 with an operating shaft 28, which is adapted to be driven from the main shaft of the feeding-machine'in-any suitable manner. (Not shown.) Mounted upon the shaft 25 between its supporting-bearings are several cams which operate the dif ferent parts of the sheet-separating mechanism. These cams will be referred to in connection with the said parts of the mechanism.

30 is the supporting and operating lever of the buckling-finger proper. This lever 30 is journaled at 31 to the face of the buckler-sup porting frame 16 and has a heel or lug 32 projecting from it adjacent to its journal, to which lug 32 is journaled a vertically-extending rod 33, which passes up through a guidebracket 34, which is secured to the outer face of the nut 19 of thebuckler-supporting frame. A spiral spring surrounds the rod 33 and is confined between the bracket 34 and the lower end of the rod 33. The spring 35 tends to move the lower curved end 30 of the lever 30 outwardly or to the left of Figs. 2 and 3.

is the buckler-finger proper, formed with block, on which is adapted to engage afshe t a yoked-forward end 41, in which is mounted a suction-cup 42, formed of a tubular rubber of paper by reason of its frictional qualities and also by reason of the suction whichis created in it by the arrangement presently to be described.

Extending up-fr'on'i the tubular rubber block 42 is a flexible air-tube 43, whichleads tothe lower tubular projection 44, formed'on the forward face of the valve-casing 45, which-is mounted upon the lower' bracket portion of the buckler-supporting frame 16. i This valvecasing 45 also has an upper'tubular projection 46, from-which extends a flexible tube 47 which leadsto a pipe 47 of "any suitable air pump or other device for exhausting the air from the cups of the buckling-fingersL' The exhaust-pipe 47 a is common to both buckling mechanisms andhas means for maintaining the proper vacuum therein, as hereinafter "described. The rear face of the valve-block 45' has a vertical dovetailed channel'48 cut in'toit, in which dovetailed channel 48 slidesithe" vertically-movable'valve plate 49'ofdovetailed cross-section. The valve-plate'49 has a recess 50'cut in its inner face, which isiadapt'ed to form communication between the in'let44 and outlet 46 to place the suction-cup 42, "of thebuckling-finger in direct communication with the air-exhausting" apparatus; Formed on the rear face of the valve-plate'49 is a'lug or projection 51, which rests in the vertical plane of asectional operating-cam 52, which is secured to'the-buckler-operating shaft 25. This sectional cam 52 and its purpose will presently be described. j

53 is a spiral spring connecting the upper end of the valve-plates 49 'withthe valve-cas' ing 45 to cause lug'5l tofollow' the sectional operating-cam 52 and give the valve a spring" tendency to 'close communication through;

tubes4446py The cam '52'is formed of twoparts 52" and 52", one of which, 52, is adjustably'secured to 1 the shaft 25", while the-other s'ection,'52 is ad justably secured to the section52? by means of a set-"screw 52, (passing through slot 52 in section 52" andscrew-seated inlthe' cam-section 52". :Iii'adjusting this cam it is "first set in proper position upon the operating-shaft 25 to cause the suction in the cup '42 fof the buckling-finger to be cut ofli atth'e proper moment With-relation to the operation of the feeding-off mechanism that is, the suction should becat 01f immediately after the feed ing-oif mechanismengages the sheet; The

adjustable cam-section 52 is their adjusted to regulate the moment of starting the suction in buckling-finger cup '42. This adjustment of the-operation of the valve,;which regulatesthe suction ofthe buckling-finger, is particularly important, because when operating upon some kinds of paper it is necessary to havethe suction of the buckling-finger start immeans for regulating the suctional powerof; the instruments to suit various gradesyof pa per, heavy paper being-able to stand a stronger suction than light paper. For this purpose I provide a spring relief'or safety valve, such as 54, ip 'one ofthe air-pipes, as shownin Fig.

125f thedrawings, such valve having a spring,

54 'for' keeping it normally closed and an ad: justing device 541 forregulating the pressure at which it will automatically open and allow the entrance of air for preventing the exhaust in the pipes becoming too great. By this arrangement the suctional grip of the bucklingfingers can beregulatedtoani cety. In operatin g upofi-light porous'vpaper: the spring pressure of-the relief-valve is adjusted sothat 'it will 'allow only a light suction inlthe cups ,of the: buckling-fingers. This will prevent fbuckling momm one sheet atlonce. v If a heavier paper is being operated upon, the

reliefvalve'is adjusted to hold a stronger vacuum.

i The-relief v'alvefis preferably placed in the common exhaust-pipe 47?, but maybe placed at any desirable point. 47? isa flexible tube leading from pipe 47 to the suction-pump,

' The relief-valveis also important in main-r,

tainingthe suction of the buckling-fingers at :1 suflibiently'low .1 egreetQ enable the feeding-ofi devices'lto readily pull the. separated sheet away fromthe buckling-fingers.

ger 40"is reamed out or enlarged at its-outer.

"ends and contracts gradually toward the center,.so as to allow the buckling-finger tqmove; i. laterally as well as vertically upon the pivot pin 55; The'finger 40 is loosely confined upon its pivot-pin byawasher 57 and screw 57... A bracket-arm58 is also secured to ,the lower end 3030f the lever '30,, anda spring 59 connects thebracket58 with ,a pin 60, projecting "rearwardly from the buckling-finger 4 0. The spring 59 serves tohold the buckler-finger in its normal position and. at the same time allow it to have proper lateral play'when operated 4 no The buckling finger 40 is journaled loos'ely at its rear endupon a 4 in 5 5,mounted 1 m the.

lowerend 30" of the ever 30. The-trans verse bearing-opening 5 6 of the buckling-fink upo by the mechanism presently toibe dev scribed.' 4 f 4 Keyed to the operating-shaft 25 1s a cam 65, having an extreme eccentric portion 65" Eng a diametrically opposite cut-out portion tion-roller 66, journaled in the bucklersupporting and operating lever 30, and by the rotation of the cam 65 the buckling-finger is moved inwardly and outwardly over the pile of sheets. The limit of the inward motion is caused by the extreme eccentric portion .The cut out portion 65 of the cam allows the buckler-finger to be drawn outwardly a little beyond "its normal position of starting, and when the buckling-finger is drawn outwardly to this extreme position the finger is in elevated position with the sheet attached. This position is that of stretching the sheet laterally, as will be hereinafter explained is a lever journaled to the buckler-supporting frame upon a pin 71 and having a spring 72 for imparting to it a downwardspring tendency. The lever 70 carries an antifrictionsroller 73, which operates upontheperiphery of a semicircular cam 74, keyed to the operating-shaft 25. J ournaled-loosely at the inner end of thelever 70 upon a pivot-pin 77 is a link 75, which is in turn journaled at its lower end 76 to the buckling-finger 40. The link is squared upon or otherwise rigidly secured to the end of the pivot-pin 7 7 The point of connection between the lever 70 and link 75 is shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the transverse bearing-opening 70" in the lever 70 being reamed out or enlarged at its outer ends and contracts toward its center, and the outer surfaces 7 0 of the end of lever 70 are curved or convexed for the purpose of allowing a relative lateral rocking of the link 75, pin 77, and finger 78 upon the lever 70. This loose joint is to compensate for the lat eral movement of the buckler-finger upon its loose joint, as just explained. 78 is an upwsirdly-projecting curved finger squared upon or otherwise rigidly secured to the pivot pin 77 and adapted when the buckler-finger is elevated to engage a curved bracket-arm 79, which is mounted at upon the buckler-sup porting frame 16. The link 75-and finger 78 being rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the pivot-pin 77 will move as an integral part. The purpose of the finger 78 and bracketarm. 79 is to cause the buckling-finger to be moved laterally upon its supporting-lever 30- that is, rearwardly of the pile when it is raised from the pile-and be held in this shiftedposition while it is in raised position and be ing returned to its initial position. This movement causes the sheet to be shifted bodily in a rearward direction upon the pile. The lever 70 and its operating-cam 74 and spring 71 cause the elevation and loweringpf the buckling-finger with relation to the" pile of sheets.

is the holding-down foot or clamp mounted upon the inner end of an arm or lever 86,

which is journaled upon a pin 87, mounted in The cam 65 operates upon an antifricshaft 25.

the ibuckler-frame. A pin 88 projects up wardly from the journal end of the arm 86 in, position to' engage a stop-flange 89 on the buckler-frame for the purpose of preventing the holding-down foot 85 falling when there is no pile in place to support it. y

90 is an arm or lever journaled at 91 upon the buckler-frame and carrying in one end an antifriction-roller 92, which is adapted to be intermittently forced into engagement with the arm 86 of -'the holding-down clamp 85. Journaled in the other end of the lever 90 is an antifriction-roller 93, which travels JJPQn the periphery of a semicircular cam 94, which is keyed to the operating-shaft 25. The ten- 8 tion-roller 93 in engagement with the cam and tends to throw the antifrictiomroller 92 down into engagement with thearm 86 when 85 it isv released by the low portion of the cam 94, reaching the antifriction-roller 93. The tension "of spring 96 is thereby thrownupon the holding-down foot 85 for securely clamping the pile after the top sheet has been buckled from beneath the foot and while the separated sheetis' being fed from the pile.

100 is the buckler stop or foot, consisting of a block of rubber mounted in a socket 101,

formed in the lower end of a bent arm 102,v

which'is mounted upon the outer end of an. arm 103 by means of the bolt 104 and nut 105. The joint between arms 102'and 103 allows for the adjustment of the buckler stop or foot -in a horizontal plane'. The arm'1 03 is suitably mounted upon' the rock-arm '106, keyed to a short shaft 107, journaled in the buckler-frame 16 and formed integral with arm 108, carrying antifriction-roller 109, which runs upon the cam 110,'keyed to the A tension-spring 111 is mounted upon the shaft 107 to cause the antifrictionroller 109 to closely follow the controllingcam- 110 and to hold the buckler-stop 100 down into engagement with the pile.

F F represent diagrammatically in Fig. 1

a the feeding-off fingers, which may be of any suitableconstruction adapted to feed a separated "sheet from th'e pile. V 4

It will be clear that two of the improved sheet-buckling separating mechanisms are to be used,'one arranged at each of the rearcornersof the pile of 'sheets. I y

The operation of my improved mechanism will be clear from the following explanation;

When the buckling mechanisms start to separate the top sheetfrom the pile, the parts are in v the position shown in Fig. 2' of the drawings, the bucklers42 are in engagementwith the mic, the holding feet 85 rest by their own weight upon'the pile,'and the buckler-stops 100 are in engagement with the pile. The cams 65 force the levers 30 inwardly, carrylng wlth them the bucklers 42. If the paper is highly glazed, a strong suction in the bucklers is '7 buckler-fingers in elevated position. to these started the moment the bucklers start to move inwardly; but if the paper is of a softer variety the bucklers are given a part of their inward or 'kl'ers 42. 'Just'before the two buckling-fingers (operating from opposite sides of the sheet) have reached theirinnermostpositionsthe cams 110 cause elevation of the buckling-stops 100,

allowing the short buckled arches X to spread out across the rear edge of the pile, while the bucklers 42 complete their inward strokes and maintain a firm suction a1 grip upon the buckled corners of the sheet. Immediately after this the cams 74, operating through levers and links 75, will elevate the buckling-fingers 40. As the buckling-fingers are elevated thearms 78 will pass behind the curved bracket-arms 7 9 and by their engagement therewith will force the bucklingfingers laterally upon levers 30thatis, rearwardlyofthepileshifting the sheetbodily upon the pile. The loose joint connections between buckler-arms 40 and levers 30and betweenlinks and levers 7 0 will allow this lateral or rearward movement of the buckling-fingers. Immediately following the elevation and rearward or lateral movement of the buckling-fingers thelevers 30 will start to move outwardly under the action of their springs 35, the cams 65 rotating to allow said movements. The bucklingfingers are moved outwardlythat is, toward the sides of the pilewhile they are in elevated position, the suction in the fingers being maintained during this motion to cause the bucklers to hold onto the sheet and maintain its rear edge in elevated position. During all this time the air-blast pipes 5 (if used) are blowing air underneath the raised rear edge of the sheet. The bucklers 42 move outwardly past their initial position by reason of the antifriction-rollers 66 on levers 3O entering the extreme low portions 65 of the controllingcams 65. The result of the recedingof the points will be the stretching o'f the raised rear edge of the sheet substantially as illustrated in'Fig. 1 of the drawings. This allows the air-pipes 5 to completely separate the entire sheet from the pile, the rearward shifting of the sheet previous to the stretching of its rear edge being effective in separating any spots which might have adhered. Immediately following the stretching of the rear edge of the sheet as described andjust prior: to the moment when the suction in the bucklingfingers is broken by the operation of the controlling-valve the feeding-01f fingers engage the sheet and start it from the pile The springpressure upon the holding-down clamps is ap plied immediately after the corners of the top sheet are withdrawn from beneath them.

Idesire to claim, broadly, asheet-separating instrument which is adapted to first move transversely of the pile to buckle a sheetand then move longitudinally of the pile or laterally of its direction of buckling to shift the sheet bodily upon the pile. The direction'of movement of the sheet after it is'buckled is not essential to my invention; butI prefer to shift it rearwardly, as described. I also desire to claim, broadly, a sheet-separating instrument of the pneumatic type which is adapted' to first buckle a sheet at or near it's'edge, then raise the buckled edge of the sheet, and finally move laterally of its direction of buckling to shift the partially-separated sheet upon the pile,

I also desire to claim, broadly, a Sl168tbllC-. kling mechanism which is adapted to first buckle the sheet, then elevate the buckled portions of the sheet and shift the entire sheet upon the pile, and finally stretch or straighten, out the elevated and separated edge of the sheet. In this latter construction the preferred means for accomplishing the result are the pneumatic bucklers, which have the forward-and-back movement and the upward-anddownward movement, the backward movements being carried a little beyond the initial position of the buckling devices.

I have found from an actual trial of my improved mechanism upon certain kinds of paper that the shifting of the entire sheet upon the pile and the stretching of the lifted edge of the sheet so completely loosens the sheet upon the pile that'it can be readily fed off from the pile without blowing air under the sheet. In some cases, however, the sheets will not separate so readily, and it then becomes necessary to utilize the air-blasts to assist in separating the sheets.

To efiectively stretch or straighten out the lifted edge of a sheet, it'is essential that the buckling-fingers move outwardly in raised position to points beyond the lowered positions assumed by the bucklers at the moment of starting inward tov buckle the corners of the sheet.- This is necessary for several reasons. In the first place the buckling-fingers may slip a little before they secure a firm hold on the sheet on the inward movementss In the sec- 0nd placethe pile usually has an undulating 7 surface, and the greater movement'of the buc-' kling-fingers outwardly in elevated position will compensate for this slack or loosenessin the edge of the sheet.

As stated above, I prefer to employ the pneumatic or suction devices as the means by which the sheet-moving instruments-will engage asheet for lifting and stretching it; but I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of such suction devices.

I may use otherforms of sheet engaging and moving devices for accomplishing the results described. 4

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, witha sheet-moving instrument capable of moving transversely and longitudinally with relation to the pile, and means for operating said' sheet-- moving instrument adapted tocause it to first buckle one edge of a sheet by its movement transversely of the pile, and next shift the sheet bodily upon the pile by its movement longitudinally of the pile, substantially as set fort 2. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, and suitable feeding devices adapted tofeed sheets on the pile, with a sheet-separatin g instrument capable of moving transversely and longitudinally with relation to the pile, and means for operating said sheet-moving instrument adapted to cause it to first buckle one edge of a sheet by its movement transversely of the pile, and next shift the sheet bodily upon the the pile by its movement longitudinally of the pile, substantially as set forth.

3. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, and suitable feeding devices adapted to feed sheets on the pile, with a sheet-moving device capable of moving transversely, longitudinally and vertically with relation to the pile, and means for operating the sheet-separating instrument adapted to cause it to first buckle one edge of the sheet by its movement transversely of the pile and next simultaneously raise the buckled edge of the sheet and shift the sheet bodily upon the pile by its longitudinal and vertical movements with relation t9 the pile, substan tially as set forth.

4. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with sheet-separating devices constructed and arranged to reciprocate horizontally over the pile, move up and down with relation to the pile, and laterally toward the rear edge of the pile, said separating devices being adapted to buckle and raise one edge of a sheet from the pile and then by the lateral movement shift the entire sheet rearwardly upon the pile, and suitablesheet-feeding devices adapted to feed the sheet forwardly on the pile, substantially as set forth.

5. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of asupport for a pile of sheets, and suitable feed devices adapted to feed a sheet on the pile, with separating devices adapted to raise an edge of a sheet from the pile, shift the entire sheet upon the pile and stretch or straighten out the raised edge of the sheet above the pile, substantially as set forth.-

6. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of sheet-buckling devices adapted to first buckle and then raise an edge of a sheet upon the pile, shift the entire sheet upon the pile, and stretch or straighten out the raised edge of the sheet between them above the pile, substantially as set forth.

In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, and suitable sheet-feeding devices adapted to feed a sheet on the pile, with sheet-separating devices adapted to buckle and raise an edge of a sheet upon the pile, shift the entire sheet upon the pile and stretch the raised edge of the sheet above the pile, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a suctional sheet-moving device, means controlling the suction in said device, means for reciprocating and raising and lowering the sheet-moving device with relation to the pile,

and means for moving said device laterally ofits direction of reciprocation, substantially as set forth. i

9. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a suctional sheet-moving device, means for controlling the suction in said device, means for raising and lowering and reciprocating said sheet-moving device with reference to the pile, and means, thrown into operation by the raising of said device, for shifting said. sheet-moving device laterally of its direction of reciprocation, substantially as set forth.

10. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a'pile of sheets, with a suctional sheet-moving device adapted to engage a sheet, means for impartinga forward and back and lateral movements to said sheetmoving device, means for raising and lowering said sheet-moving device, and means controlling the suction of said device adapted to cause said device to engage a sheet, move it inwardly, raise it from the pile and shift it bodily on the pile, and means for blowing air under the lifted edge of the sheet for completely separating it from the pile, substantially as and for the purpose set forthl 11. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of two oppositely-arranged suctional sheet-buckling'devices means for reciprocating the buckling devices inwardly and out-- wardly over a pile of sheets, means for raising and lowering the buckling devices with relation to the pile, means for shifting said buckling devices laterally of their line of reciprocation, means controlling the suction of said devices adapted to cause them to engage a sheet at two points, move inwardly with the engaged parts, raise the engaged parts of the sheet from the pile, shift the entire sheet upon the pile, and move away'from each other while part of the sheet is raised so asto stretch or straighten out the raised the sheet, substantially as set forth.

12. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a reciprocating arm, a sheet-moving instrument part of :joined to said arm and capable of moving up and down and laterally thereon, means for operatin g said reciprocating arm, and means for raising and lowering and moving laterally the sheet-moving instrument, substantially as set forth. 1

13. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a sheetbuckling finger having means for engaging and raising a sheet, means for reciprocating and raising and lowering said buckling-finger, a stationary bracket-arm, and a part connected with the buckling-finger adapted to engage said bracket-arm when the buckling-finger is raised and cause the buckling-finger to be shifted laterally, as set forth.

14. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, a buckler-supporting frame, an operating-lever mounted thereon, a buckling-fingerhaving a laterally-yielding pivotal connection with the operating-lever, a buckler-elevating lever, a link connecting the buckling-finger and elevating-lever and having a laterally-yielding connection with said lever, a shaft, cams on said shaft operating .said levers, a bracketarm on the buckler-supporting frame, and a finger connected with one of said parts and adapted to engage said bracket-arm for moving the buckling-finger laterally, as set forth.

15. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with ing and lowering said instrument, means for reciprocating said instrument inwardly and outwardly and means for moving said instrument rearwardly of the pile; said raising and lowering means, reciprocating means and rearwardly-moving means being constructed and arranged relatively to cause said buckling instrument to move inwardly in lowered position, rearwardly while it is being raised, and outwardly in raised position to a point beyond the position from which said instrument starts its inward movement in lowered position, as set forth.

' TALBOT C. DEXTER.

Witnesses:

J. GREEN, WM. E. KNIGHT. 

